GREEN BAY – Jessica Lindstrom did not make the final roster for the Los Angeles Sparks, but her basketball career is far from over.

The former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay star forward will find out sometime in the next few months where she will play professionally this season, but her 10 days spent in Hollywood was quite the experience.

The 6-foot-1 Lindstrom was in the same gym as WNBA star Candace Parker, ran into rap star Future at a local establishment and strolled down the Walk of Fame in downtown L.A. one day before Justin Timberlake and his ‘N Sync bandmates received their own star.

“When you look at it as a whole, it was a really cool experience,” Lindstrom said. “To be able to even go, and especially L.A., I had never been there. That was awesome, and all the things I got to do. … You can find weaknesses within yourself when you play against the best of the best.

“For that, I’m very thankful. It was stressful, but if you care, it’s going to be stressful.”

Lindstrom is the fifth player in UWGB history to join a WNBA team in some capacity.

Mehryn Kraker was drafted 27th overall by the Washington Mystics last year. Julie Wojta was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the 18th pick in 2012 and played one game for the team and appeared in three games for the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2013.

Chandra Johnson-Francies played in eight games for the Sparks in 2003 after signing a free agent contract, while Natalie Berglin was in training camp with the Connecticut Sun in 2008.

Lindstrom arrived in Los Angeles on April 26 and immediately was whisked away to several different medical offices for a full physical that took up the majority of her first day there.

While veteran players get to live in condos during training camp, she stayed at the Luxe City Center Hotel, which is located across the street from the Staples Center where both the Sparks and L.A. Lakers play. Lindstrom roomed with University of Texas guard Brooke McCarty.

When it came time to get her customized jersey, Lindstrom attempted to pick No. 21, which was her number at both UWGB and Superior High School, but it already was taken. She then picked No. 20, which also wasn’t available.

Her third choice, No. 32, proved the winner. It also happens to be the same number as Lakers legend Magic Johnson, but she wasn’t thinking Magic when she did it. It was her father’s number during his playing days.

The Sparks introduced their offense to the players that Friday – defense came later – and started scrimmaging when training camp officially opened Sunday at the Galen Center on USC’s campus.

L.A. had established veterans on one team and younger players on the other. Lindstrom found Oregon State guard Sydney Wiese, who is in her second season with the team, to be extremely helpful. Wiese had no problem offering advice to newcomers, reminding them what to do or where to go while on the floor.

On a roster full of players from Power 5 schools, Lindstrom entered an underdog coming from a mid-major. She hoped to use that as an advantage for people who weren’t expecting much.

She never felt intimidated on the court. The whole time, she thought she held her own.

But it likely didn’t matter what kind of numbers she put up or how well she played during the week. The depth at her position made it a remote chance she was going to make the final roster.

Making things more difficult, the team also selected Florida State forward Shakayla Thomas in the second round of the WNBA draft last month.

Lindstrom didn’t ignore those facts in front of her. She knew exactly the odds she was facing.

Those odds eventually caught up to her.

It’s never fun getting cut, but consider it another experience in her basketball life.

Some players who were released got a call in their hotel room and were asked to go down to the lobby where they were delivered the news.

Lindstrom had just gotten done with practice last Friday when she was told by a team manager to meet with the coaching staff in their office.

He didn’t say what they wanted, but he didn’t have to. Lindstrom already knew.

When she arrived, Sparks coach Brian Agler was there along with assistant coaches Tonya Edwards and Bobbie Kelsey and assistant general manager Michael Fischer.

Lindstrom was hoping they’d give her the news quickly. They asked her to sit down, and although she would have preferred to just keep standing, she had a seat.

Agler told her she did a great job during the week, but pointed out the numbers crunch at her position. Even though Lindstrom already had prepared herself for the news as she walked into the office, getting released still cut deep for a moment.

She thanked the coaches for the opportunity.

“They didn’t have to bring me in (to camp),” she said. “They didn’t have to bring any of us in.”

Lindstrom arrived back in Green Bay the next day, but she took some memories home with her. Practice was done about 3 p.m. each day, so players had an opportunity to do other things while in L.A.

She visited Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, looked at expensive houses and went to see the Hollywood sign perched above L.A.

Lindstrom, who is graduating on Saturday, will spend the summer here working at the Green Bay Country Club.

Wherever she plays professionally – it’s a matter of when and not if –she might bring a little extra confidence with her thanks to her WNBA experience.

“For sure,” Lindstrom said. “Defensively, there was never a time where I was just like. … There was a time where I was uncomfortable (on offense) because you don’t know the offenses, but there was never a time on defense where I was like, ‘Oh, I’m scared to guard her. You take her.’

“I felt good. You know when things are like, ‘Wow, I don’t fit in?’ I never once felt like that.”